Takoma Park, MD – The World River Centre, on behalf of its hallmark program, the International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHoF) begins the year by highlighting members of its Class of 2023. Six honorees join an amazing group of paddlers bringing the total number of inductees to 61.
Honored attendees included 2023 Champion Manfred Vogt (Germany), and Advocate Peter Skinner (USA), accompanied by family members. 2023 Pioneer Bryce Whitmore (USA) and Advocate Isamu Tatsuno (Japan) provided acceptance videos and Mr. Tatsuno was represented on site by Patrick Fitzgerald.
Individuals inducted into the International Whitewater posthumously were Explorer Mike Jones (Great Britain) was represented by IWHoF Class of 2021 in the Explorer category, Dave Manby and 2023 Champion Jamie McEwan (USA) was represented by his sons, Keith Boynton and Devin McEwan. See the Class of 2023 International Whitewater Hall of Fame video reel here and at iwhof.org.
“I was surprised and delighted being inducted into the IWHoF in 2023 for my work helping AW survive extinction,” notes Pete Skinner, one of the two Class of 2023 Inductees in the Advocate category, “then spark whitewater conservation advocacy that now burns like a wild fire across the USA. Rubbing shoulders in Strasbourg with other outstanding whitewater icons was a joy and privilege: there are many other leaders and pioneers in the whitewater community that deserve similar accolades!”
“Honorees or their representatives reminded us how important it is to understand our history, and that real people have built our sport with innovative solutions; ignored precedent to accomplish the unthinkable; dominated in their discipline; changed how and when rivers flow through regulatory change; or built a country-wide system to promote paddling,” says World River Centre President Risa Shimoda. “They deserved this special recognition, and the paddlesports trade had an opportunity to meet them at The Paddle Sports Show in late September.”
About the International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHOF)
The International Whitewater Hall of Fame is a program of the World River Centre, designed to recognize and celebrate significant contributions to Paddlesports and led by an international Board of Directors. Nominations are submitted through IWHOF Affiliates around the world and screened by an international panel. The IWHoF electorate casts votes in each category to determine the honorees. See past inductees and find more information at: iwhof.org.
